Christ on a bike.

It’s been a long time since my last post on here, so much has happened, let me take you through. Me and Claire have moved house from Heaton to the beautiful Newcastle Quayside; we’re now living in the very new Lime Square apartments. Christmas was lovely, first year we have both been away from home on Christmas day; Claire’s Christmas dinner was gorgeous. We went to London for my twenty first birthday, which involved lots of eating and partying. We’ve generally just been doing everything together and it has been so good I can’t explain. Bonfire night, our own little fireworks display, Halloween we had our own pumpkin and everything. We had a mint time with James and Claire on New Year, never realising how mental it was they had the same names as us until we were signing their Christmas card ‘from James and Claire to James and Claire’. I’m loving Newcastle a lot; really proud to say I’m from here. Nearly booked our next big journey, New York City at The Paramount Hotel right next to Times Square. Excited beyond. Endless more personal stuff has happened but this post would be way too huge.

Now, a report on how my career is going; so far it has surpassed all my expectations. I’m nearly half way through my placement year, in which I’ve learned and done so much, met so many different people and worked in so many situations; stressful and the opposite. The portfolio is bulging and I’m so glad I chose not to go straight into my final year. The experience really has been worth it, and the money is a very useful bonus. The summary so far is that I’ve worked with the BBC on film projects, worked with the North Tyneside Council on numerous projects, used tens of thousands of pounds worth of kit, taught many classes, worked with children of all ages and of special needs, been on a business trip to London all expenses paid and so much more all of which will be described in detail in my new portfolio and CV. It really has made me  a lot more confident, professional and just ‘able’ in general. The thing that really opened my eyes was that when I was working with the BBC in their Look North studio, there were seven people doing all the jobs I do on my own in a day. I really can’t wait to get out into the world of work and see how far I can push myself. I’ve enjoyed the work I’ve been doing so much I’ve already changed my desired career path from design to film and media. London, here we come.

I’m really proud of Claire too, she has had a placement at the Sunday Sun, fashion reporting and styling. To date she’s had eleven spreads published, styled over fifteen models (male and female) and worked with the accomplished photographer Sally Adams. She has just been offered a placement with Dazed and Confused and also the Warehouse press team, both in London.

I’m getting up at six thirty every morning and getting home from work at six in the evening, so the portfolio site is coming along a bit slower than I would have liked, all the same it should be up soon.

On the entertainment side, watch Children of Men now. Listen to Klaxons, New Young Pony Club, CSS, The Rapture, Crystal Castles now. Marco Polo on Grey Street in Newcastle is the best Italian here we think, NumJai (or similar) near the Carling Academy is the best Thai here we think, Wagamamas was disappointing for a first try. Morrison’s is a horrible supermarket but we have to shop there because there is nowhere else about. ASDA, could you please open right next to our house please. Jukebox on Fridays at the Other rooms is the best night out. Book a holiday now, everyone has to have something to look forward too!

Oh, and we are now completely rid of PCs, the brand new Macbook Pro 15″ is so good it makes me cry a little. Everyone at work is slowly starting to agree with me, and I quote “Apple are really cool actually aren’t they” says Shaun, the mac hater, whilst playing with iTunes’ coverflow.

Taroo,

Jim.